Page 111 of Take No Prisoners
"I remember the day Vadim got the scar over his eye," Jermain said instead of giving his answer. "How bad was the original injury?"
"I lost the eye," Vadim said. "Martiz repaired it but left the scar so I'd always remember he was the better fighter."
"How old were you?" Allora asked.
"Eighteen." Vadim cleared his throat. "He made sure I was old enough for the rest of his plans that day."
"Old enough?" Allora's gaze snapped to Vadim, and then she backhanded Martiz into his chair again.
"I don't care how good a healer you are. Nothing is worth that price."
"It was supposed to teach him balance," Martiz said. "He was supposed to heal the scar himself!" He sounded desperate as he clasped his hands to his chest.
"Stop acting like this has anything to do with magic!" After Allora's outburst, the room took a collective breath, waiting in silence.
Jermain shook his head. "I agree with the council. Martiz doesn't deserve the power he was given."
"And Vadim's guilt?" Beatrice asked. "How do you rule?"
"Not guilty," Niall said.
"Not guilty," Frost and Jermain agreed.
Allora locked eyes with someone behind Efren. Elsie, if he had to guess. "Not guilty," she agreed.
"There you have it," Beatrice said. "Court dismissed. Vadim and Niall, come with me, and bring Martiz with you."
For someone who had relinquished her power, Beatrice was still the most commanding person in the room.
∞∞∞
Niall
The return trip to the statue's hiding place took twice as long, thanks to Martiz dragging his feet and begging forgiveness the entire way.
"Please. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."
"Yes, you did," Vadim countered. "It still counts as hurting someone, even after you heal the wound."
Niall remembered the care Vadim had taken not to injure him when he was a prisoner on his ship. Vadim could have easily turned to cruelty after what Martiz had done to him, but he'd chosen kindness instead. Kindness disguised as gruff tolerance, but kindness, nonetheless.
"The council has ruled," Niall's grandmother said. She hadn't flagged during the trial, but she now looked like she would rather take a nap than continue through the curving tunnel.
"The council is out of balance again," Martiz said. "You've let a man replace you."
"And now we have another vacancy to fill," she said. "If Captain Nola is ready to give up her ship, she would be welcome on the council. If not, we have lesser weavers on the island who would be happy to serve. Petri, for instance."
"Still a—"
"Nonbinary people count as part of our minority," his grandmother countered before Martiz could speak.
"Why doesn't Petri sail with Efren all the time?" Niall asked Vadim, keeping his voice low while the other two continued to bicker.
"They can't handle the fighting. Or the sharks. They're deathly afraid of sharks." Vadim grinned. "So is Klaus. Said he nearly shat himself when you called one."
"I thought Efren called it."
"Efren doesn't use them for transportation." Vadim tapped his shoulder. "That was all you."
